By Ryan Doerr, President of Strategic Club Solutions

Do you know why Google Maps works? It’s because it knows where you are AND where you need to go. Without knowing where you need to go, you are directionless. The same is true with club leadership.

With years of club industry experience and researching effective leadership, here are 10 directions we recommend you follow to lead successfully:”

#1 Know where you want to go.

Too often we see clubs either lack clarity on their vision or it’s absent from day-to-day operations entirely. A club’s Vision is its North Star. It is your strategic map for success. It’s your club’s purpose, what it’s striving for and what it wants to achieve. If you aren’t sure what it is, start asking long time employees, Board Members, Committee Members, etc. If you don’t have one, get one. It will help you from being derailed.

#2 Focus on vision daily.

Reintroduce (or introduce) your vision to your team so you can be in alignment. This is as simple as bringing it to every single meeting you have with the team. When the team is aligned, it’s the best way to manage.

#3 Know where you are at.

Stop and be aware of any gaps that are prohibiting you from executing your vision, so you can close them. Be willing to look and give yourself permission to be honest with yourself and what you are willing to change. You can’t do it on your own. Your team is a key component to this success. Surround yourself with brilliance and momentum.

#4 Stay the course.

It’s too easy to get pulled into different directions. There are countless routes to a destination so stay on course by paying attention to one area and then go deeper into it. It is very easy to want to jump over here and jump over there, but soon you’ll be off course. Should you try something new, ask yourself if this new thing is helping you get to the vision. If not, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue it at all, perhaps just not right now.

#5 Find gratitude.

Fill up your tank. Club leaders are often time-starved wearing many hats finding themselves in a lonely position of being at the top with few to share daily wins and challenges with. Research shows if you take the time to reflect on your daily wins, your perspective changes. If you can find five minutes, write down those little “miracles” or wins from the day. It could be as simple as your staff all showing up on time or a member pointing out something special a team member did for them. Once you start recording these, you will see how full your life really is and how full it is with grateful moments.

#6 Stop rescuing.

Put your brakes on rescuing and stop doing it. It’s like an addiction. Are you jumping in and fixing things all day long? If so, this becomes a habit. When you do this, you’re training the team that you will fix it. Then, they don’t fix it. Frustration mounts from both sides. While there’s a high on being the hero, resentment forms. Ask yourself, what would have happened if you didn’t do it and they had to?

#7 Become a master delegator that empowers.

This is more than a delegator. This involves using your co-passengers to make the journey more memorable. It also allows you to live in your genius, your superpower. Free yourself up and you’ll enjoy the ride. Ask yourself what are the 3 things that take up most of your time?

#8 Create repeatable systems.

From member events to marketing to onboarding and training, continue to do what works. You want this club running like a well-oiled machine so you can focus on coaching up your team.

#9 Expect the best from your team.

Don’t get used to settling because “that’s just them.” Raise everyone to their potential. Continue to ask if they are the right fit? Build that A-Team and do not settle for less.

#10 Ask yourself why you do what you do.

Does your team know what you do? Who do you stand for? Who do you fight for? Are you self-driven enough to make the time to work on your leadership daily? Are you allowing for flexibility and riding with change? Inspire your team to ride along with you.

We are in a time of disruption which allows you to be innovative and think differently. Staying current and relevant and thinking ahead will attract people to you. But, without that clear vision and guiding principles you can be headed in the wrong direction.

At Strategic Club Solutions, we work with club leaders to build bigger, better, and healthier clubs. We know vision is a key driver in a club’s success. We work with clubs to evaluate if the current club vision is relevant and true and how to bring it more to life. Or we work with clubs to create their mission, vision, and values and roll out the path to help get them where they need to go. We add life and clarity to the strategy by developing tactical actions to deliver on what is needed to reach the destination.

Connect with Strategic Club Solutions today. We’ll get you where you need to go. [email protected]. 262-661-CLUB (2582). www.strategicclubsolutions.com.

Sponsored content by Strategic Club Solutions